Hey guys...heres the problem...I can not start windows XP anymore...i get a BSOD before it even loads up...it disappears really fast and the only thing i can really see is REGISTRY_ERROR....I DONT have a backup of my registry...and i absolutely NEED to get some programs off my computer before i have to reformat it...how can I make XP boot?
HUGE PROBLEM...Need help with XP Pro..NOW!!
- Thread starter fedupwithcomp
- Start date
blurredvision
Lifer
- Oct 19, 2000
- 17,860
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blurredvision
Lifer
- Oct 19, 2000
- 17,860
- 4
- 81
It usually been my understanding that if you can't even get into safe mode, then your screwed. Especially if you don't have a registry backup. I'm not sure if WinXP comes with an automatic registry backup, as I know Win98 did. You can always try booting into DOS (if you have a boot disk), and try typing in regscan (I think that was it, it's been a while). If that's the correct command, it should take you into a screen and will show up to 5 backed up registries, if you have any. They will also have the dates, so if you have any, you'll know what programs might not work.
The only thing I can think of right now is that maybe you either have an extra hdd or maybe a second computer. If you have a second comp, plug that hard drive into it and copy whatever files you need onto the main hdd of your second comp. If you have an extra hdd laying around, you might think about installing a fresh copy of WinXP on that second hdd, then access the main hdd from that temp install on the second hdd.
The only thing I can think of right now is that maybe you either have an extra hdd or maybe a second computer. If you have a second comp, plug that hard drive into it and copy whatever files you need onto the main hdd of your second comp. If you have an extra hdd laying around, you might think about installing a fresh copy of WinXP on that second hdd, then access the main hdd from that temp install on the second hdd.
when i plug the HD into another computer and try to access my files it wont let me...example...when i try to get into my desktop folder it says the file is not accessible..i dont have permission or somethin like that...how can I get around it?..cuz it doesnt even ask for a password or anything
MrChad
Lifer
- Aug 22, 2001
- 13,507
- 3
- 81
This article should help you. You need to take ownership of the files.
308421 - How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
that's not true. if you have restore points enabled, boot from an xp disc and go into the recovery console. from there it's possible to restore a working copy of the registry which allows you to get into windows. then you can eventually restore a working registry copy. i just fixed a computer with the same problem. let me know if you need further help. check out this kb article for detailed instructions: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545. when i was working on this problem i couldn't get into the recovery console because the corrupted registry wouldn't validate the administrator password. i used this utility: password tool to blank out the old password.
You are FAR from dead. Don't freak out. 
You may just need to swap out your registry with a good copy - and yes you likely already have one. You can do this from recovery console. There are a ton of threads on this already that include the step-by-step. Search the forums for "missing or corrupt", "system", "registry" and a couple particular forum members: dclive, sianath, smilin
It's almost guaranteed that your windows\repair hive will get you booting. Some more desireable versions of your registry may also exist in window\repair\regback or in your restore points located in \system volume information. Find a thread on "missing or corrupt system.ced" for the details.
Once you are booting you can look into getting your original registry working again (or not if you have a decent enough copy in your system volume info folder.
I'll try and check in on this thread tomorrow. If you haven't found the step-by-step by then I'll repeat it yet again *sigh*. Remember - don't freak out, you're probably going to be ok.
You may just need to swap out your registry with a good copy - and yes you likely already have one. You can do this from recovery console. There are a ton of threads on this already that include the step-by-step. Search the forums for "missing or corrupt", "system", "registry" and a couple particular forum members: dclive, sianath, smilin
It's almost guaranteed that your windows\repair hive will get you booting. Some more desireable versions of your registry may also exist in window\repair\regback or in your restore points located in \system volume information. Find a thread on "missing or corrupt system.ced" for the details.
Once you are booting you can look into getting your original registry working again (or not if you have a decent enough copy in your system volume info folder.
I'll try and check in on this thread tomorrow. If you haven't found the step-by-step by then I'll repeat it yet again *sigh*. Remember - don't freak out, you're probably going to be ok.
the kb article link i gave is a step by step set of instructions on restoring a working copy of the registry.
A repair is definitely worth trying first. With the computer I was working on, I couldn't do step 5 described in the above link because the computer didn't recognize that there was an existing Windows XP installation. It just said there was a partition there. That's why I had to restore the registry through the other link.
VirtualLarry
No Lifer
- Aug 25, 2001
- 56,570
- 10,202
- 126
Smilin, some of your (and others) helpful, step-by-step instruction posts, for recovering one's registry from an XP automatic restore point that includes a registry backup, really, really, needs to go into in AT FAQ.
It's really useful info, and could save you a bit of typing if it were in the FAQ.
It's really useful info, and could save you a bit of typing if it were in the FAQ.
Ooch. Not so fast guys. Repairs (inplace upgrade) is a great way to fix a ton of problems but it shouldn't be a first step when you have suspected registry corruption. In order to keep your program settings and whatnot, part of the old registry will be carried over into the new during a repair. Plus a damaged registry can cause the repair process to bomb. Then you're stuck with a computer in a reboot loop that won't finish setup. At that point you're going to have to shift-F10 during setup, fire up regedit and manually knock yourself out of setup. Your chances of a successful fix start dwindling rapidly during this.
For this particular problem I would put a repair/inplace upgrade as a last-ditch step before a reload.
An in-place will not resolve registry issues. At best, it will replaced default/missing settings that are only set during installation, but aside from that it doesn't touch the registry at all.
If you swap hives and can't boot, THEN you can do an in-place, because that will restore file versions to a known-good set.
If you swap hives and can't boot, THEN you can do an in-place, because that will restore file versions to a known-good set.
also if you want to see that error message, when it brings up the menu about XP failing to start choose the option that says something like "Disable Auto Restart on Error" this will pause the computer when the BSOD shows up and let you get a good look at it. THen you can search the Microsoft Knowledge Base with the error.
I love that feature. Used to be you had to put a parallel install on then edit the original registry to stop the autoreboot. Mind you autoreboot should have been off to begin with on a PC; it's only useful for servers that need to come back up no matter what.
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